The NFL playoff picture is heating up, with the Detroit Lions and Philadelphia Eagles currently tied for the top spot in the NFC playoffs. The Lions have a franchise-record 11-game winning streak snapped in their loss to the Buffalo Bills on Sunday, while the Eagles secured a win over the Pittsburgh Steelers.
The tiebreaker between the Eagles and Lions for the No. 1 seed is based on conference record, as they did not meet this season and are not in the same division. The Lions have one conference loss, while the Eagles have two. Therefore, the Lions will secure the top spot if they win out over their final three games.
The Vikings also pose a threat to take the No. 1 seed if both teams win out due to strength of victory. However, the Vikings still trail behind the Lions and Eagles in terms of conference record and overall performance.
The Eagles’ schedule for the rest of the season is relatively straightforward, with wins over Washington, Dallas Cowboys, and New York Giants in their final three games. The Lions face a tougher road ahead, including a Week 16 matchup against the Chicago Bears and a Monday night game against the San Francisco 49ers in Week 17.
The NFC North tiebreaker will come down to the final week of the season, with the Vikings visiting the Lions in Week 18 at Ford Field. The current tiebreaker favors the Lions, but if both teams win out or lose the same number of games, they would be tied entering the finale.
In other news, the NFL playoff picture is taking shape, with the wild-card round set to begin on January 11-13. The conference championship will be held on January 26 at the higher seed’s home stadium, and Super Bowl LXIX is scheduled for February 9, 2025 in New Orleans.
Source: https://eu.freep.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2024/12/16/lions-eagles-tiebreaker-playoffs-no-1-seed-homefield-vikings-nfc-north/77009701007